Is Defence Minister Musa Resigning as Claimed? Fact Emerges
- The Office of the Minister of Defence has addressed social media reports about General Christopher Musa's future amid the country's insecurity
- The federal government debunked claims that the defence minister was considering resignation
- It also urged Nigerians and media organisations to confirm information through official channels before sharing or publishing it
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The federal government has dismissed social media reports that defence minister General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.) intends to leave his position as the country battles with rising insecurity.
In a statement on Monday, July 20, 2026, the minister's office described the narratives as baseless and deliberately misleading.
The statement also enjoined the public to always verify information before believing and circulating such.
Source: Twitter
General Musa remains committed to his role
According to the statement, General Musa (Rtd.) is fully focused on his work and has not indicated any intention to leave office. His office said he remains dedicated to driving the federal government's national defence and security agenda, including overseeing the country's broader defence strategy and delivering on his mandate.
The government further noted that the minister continues to carry out his day-to-day responsibilities without interruption.
Government warns against spreading unverified claims
The statement also cautioned both members of the public and media organisations against sharing unconfirmed information. It urged people to cross-check details with authorised sources before publishing or circulating stories that touch on government personnel and policy.
The warning reflects ongoing concerns about the speed at which false narratives spread through social media platforms, particularly those involving senior government officials. The reiteration that General Musa remains in office and continues to function in his capacity as minister was the government's clearest signal yet that it views the resignation story as an active misinformation threat.
You can read the full statement on X here:
Tinubu warns against abusing freedom of speech
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu warned against the abuse of press freedom, adding that "freedom of expression is not freedom to defame." The president stated this while speaking at the maiden edition of the presidential press corps dinner in Abuja on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Addressing freedom of speech in the country, the president noted that the world is at a phase where people can use their smartphones to report anything. He, however, submitted that such should not override professionalism in journalism.
His statement reads in part:
"In a world where everyone with a smartphone can claim to be a journalist, the standards of professionalism, accuracy, and integrity must never be compromised; freedom of expression is not freedom to defame."
Source: Twitter
Presidency defends Tinubu on Obi's attacks
Legit.ng earlier reported that the presidency disclosed that the NDC 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was ignorant about the power-generating capacity of Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, made the claim while responding to Obi's criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Onanuga, the problem of Nigeria's electricity is not a shortage of gas, while disclosing the actual headache of Tinubu's administration.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
